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WWII Flight Sims

Smithy

I'll Lock Up
Messages
5,139
Location
Norway
Note for bartenders - I could have posted this in another section but thought that interest for such a thread may be more popular here.


Just thought I'd start a thread for WWII flight sims here where those who play the odd one can add their thoughts, etc.

I've had a go at the odd flight sim (mostly IL2) in the past on friends' computers as I've never had a computer which was really up to being able to manage playing these programs.

However we have just got a new, rather powerful laptop on which I've installed "Battle of Britain II - Wings of Victory" and good grief what a hoot of a game it is. This has been updated to its 11th updated version, 2.11 (you have to download the latest patch) and I love it. You can play this from a reasonably basic setting (where engine management, etc is automatically controlled) right up to a full sim where the player is responsible for all the engine and flight operations (magnetos, trim, prop pitch, etc, etc).

As some on here might know, I'm a bit of a Battle of Britain obsessive and I am amazed at the level of realism and attention to historical detail in this game. It's an absolute cracker.

It's not easy and there's a big learning curve (the manual is over 200 pages) but it's the closest you're likely to get to flying in 1940. You'll also need a pretty grunty computer to play this but if you're into the BoB and have a computer that can handle this then for goodness sake pick it up, you will be amazed. I've seen this described as a "time machine to 1940" and it's an apt description. I'm gobsmacked.

Just wondering if anyone else here is playing this, or if not, what other flight sims of WWII Loungers are indulging in.
 

Michael Carter

One of the Regulars
Messages
159
Location
Midwest
This is a bit post-war, and the aircraft is from the early '60's, but I still enjoy flying it and it is my most favorite airliner. Transport catagory though. I don't know that I would have made much of a fighter pilot. At least not in the sim. Too difficult to keep your head on a swivel using computers.

Inn1-2.jpg


WideviewEDDF00011.jpg


Bern011-1.jpg


Bern009-1.jpg
 

David Conwill

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,854
Location
Bennington, VT 05201
My brother keeps telling me they don't make flight sims anymore. I guess he's wrong. I haven't played them in years, but I started with Lucasarts reissue of Battlehawks 1942, Their Finest Hour, and Secret Weapons of the Luftwaffe; and ended up eventually owning Microsoft Combat Flight Simulators I and II.

I occasionally miss it, but I don't even own a joystick any more.

-David
 

Smithy

I'll Lock Up
Messages
5,139
Location
Norway
My brother keeps telling me they don't make flight sims anymore.

Honestly David I think your brother is out of the loop.

I just had a go at one of the interception scenarios on BoBII (even though I haven't completely mastered the training sorties) and it was amazing.

I was part of 3 squadrons intercepting about 60+ bombers with probably over 30 109 escorts, absolutely incredible. Over the R/T you could hear the Spit squadrons "Tally hoing" the 109s and my Hurricane squadron's commander telling us to attack the bombers, after that, various "Breaks", "Red 2 on your tail", "Pick your targets" tracers coming back from the bombers, 109s curving down from above to try and attack us before reaching the bombers, flak coming up from below from the AA defences, the odd round from the gunners hitting my aircraft as I came in to attack. Simply incredible.

I have never seen so many aircraft in a sim, there would have been over 100 aircraft flying every which way, it was bloody superb :)

Trust me, your brother should have a go at this.
 

HeyMoe

Practically Family
Messages
698
Location
Central Vermont
I fly FSX with the Vintage Flight Group - they fly everything before 1970 with a focus on WWII. Because FSX does not support weapons that will cause damage, we use gun calls, but we do have a designer working on a solution for us.

Most of us use the higher end payware aircraft so there is a lot of engine management required, even in a fight. It's a blast really :)

Check out their forum and screenshots at http://www.VintageFlightGroup.com

Here is a video one of our members did for us:
http://www.youtube.com/v/G9RQE_6xn6k?fs=1&hl=en_US
 
Last edited:

miger

New in Town
Messages
37
Location
uk
Thought i'd have a crack at this Smithy! ----------installed BOB II ,but despite downloading and installing the latest 2.11 update and the multiskin pack, the game still keeps crashing to the desktop! ---my PC's specs' are ok and i've also updated my video drivers, added the latest DirectX etc but it still keeps happening! --also, weirdly i can't raise the undercarriage??????
i'll keep trying!
Miger
 

Smithy

I'll Lock Up
Messages
5,139
Location
Norway
Thought i'd have a crack at this Smithy! ----------installed BOB II ,but despite downloading and installing the latest 2.11 update and the multiskin pack, the game still keeps crashing to the desktop! ---my PC's specs' are ok and i've also updated my video drivers, added the latest DirectX etc but it still keeps happening! --also, weirdly i can't raise the undercarriage??????
i'll keep trying!
Miger

Miger, good to hear you are having a go at getting BoBII up and running. Sorry to hear you're having trouble with it though, your best bet is to post at the A2A Simulations board as all the developers are on there and they'll help you out.

You are in for the biggest treat once you get it up and running.

Tally Ho!

Tim
 

Smithy

I'll Lock Up
Messages
5,139
Location
Norway
Thought i'd have a crack at this Smithy! ----------installed BOB II ,but despite downloading and installing the latest 2.11 update and the multiskin pack, the game still keeps crashing to the desktop! ---my PC's specs' are ok and i've also updated my video drivers, added the latest DirectX etc but it still keeps happening! --also, weirdly i can't raise the undercarriage??????
i'll keep trying!
Miger

Did you get it up and running Miger?
 

miger

New in Town
Messages
37
Location
uk
Did you get it up and running Miger?

Hi Smithy!
The latest is i've tried to re-register with the A2A forum with yet another email account and this time A2A have sent me a link, but...........after clicking this, the A2A site loads and reads: 'link doesn't match anything in our database'
---i don't think they want me!:(
I've emailed A2A direct to see if they can help.Meanwhile game still not running i'm afraid!
 

Smithy

I'll Lock Up
Messages
5,139
Location
Norway
Hi Smithy!
The latest is i've tried to re-register with the A2A forum with yet another email account and this time A2A have sent me a link, but...........after clicking this, the A2A site loads and reads: 'link doesn't match anything in our database'
---i don't think they want me!:(
I've emailed A2A direct to see if they can help.Meanwhile game still not running i'm afraid!

Don't despair Miger, I had the same problem when I tried to register. I sent an email and had it sorted out in a few days.

Keep at it as it is the most unbelievable game. It's the closest you'll get to being there in the summer of 1940.
 

Aristaeus

A-List Customer
Messages
407
Location
Pensacola FL
Thought i'd have a crack at this Smithy! ----------installed BOB II ,but despite downloading and installing the latest 2.11 update and the multiskin pack, the game still keeps crashing to the desktop! ---my PC's specs' are ok and i've also updated my video drivers, added the latest DirectX etc but it still keeps happening! --also, weirdly i can't raise the undercarriage??????
i'll keep trying!
Miger

What version of windows are you running? chk and make sure your windows is compatible to the game.

SYSTEM SPECIFICATIONS (MINIMUM):

Win98SE, Me, 2000, XP

Pentium III 800Mhz

256MB RAM

1GB Hard Drive Space

128MB DX9 Compliant Video Card



SYSTEM SPECIFICATIONS (RECOMMENDED):

Pentium IV or equal AMD

512MB RAM

256MB DX9 Compliant Video Card
 
Last edited:

miger

New in Town
Messages
37
Location
uk
What version of windows are you running? chk and make sure your windows is compatible to the game.

SYSTEM SPECIFICATIONS (MINIMUM):

Win98SE, Me, 2000, XP

Pentium III 800Mhz

256MB RAM

1GB Hard Drive Space

128MB DX9 Compliant Video Card



SYSTEM SPECIFICATIONS (RECOMMENDED):

Pentium IV or equal AMD

512MB RAM

256MB DX9 Compliant Video Card

My PC is over the recommended spec' for the game ----something just not right somewhere........
Bombarding A2A with e-mails at the mo.....they don't like replying do they?
 

Smithy

I'll Lock Up
Messages
5,139
Location
Norway
Bombarding A2A with e-mails at the mo.....they don't like replying do they?

Keep trying Miger, they took awhile with me too. But they are a very nice and helpful bunch so I'm certain they'll be able to get you up and flying fairly smartish.

If you keep having trouble I could PM one of the head honcho types over there and let them know that you are having a bit of bother registering.
 

miger

New in Town
Messages
37
Location
uk
Keep trying Miger, they took awhile with me too. But they are a very nice and helpful bunch so I'm certain they'll be able to get you up and flying fairly smartish.

If you keep having trouble I could PM one of the head honcho types over there and let them know that you are having a bit of bother registering.

Yippee! ------------------i'm in!
thanks for the support!
 

Aristaeus

A-List Customer
Messages
407
Location
Pensacola FL
My brother keeps telling me they don't make flight sims anymore. I guess he's wrong. I haven't played them in years, but I started with Lucasarts reissue of Battlehawks 1942, Their Finest Hour, and Secret Weapons of the Luftwaffe; and ended up eventually owning Microsoft Combat Flight Simulators I and II.

I occasionally miss it, but I don't even own a joystick any more.

-David
When it comes to Microsoft he is correct, after FSX MS closed up shop. There is scuttlebutt about them getting back into it but I have heard nothing concrete.
 

Bingo

New in Town
Messages
49
Location
Essex, England
IL2 is brilliant. But if you like bombers, try 'The mighty eighth.'
It's an old game, but it still rates with me. You can run your own bomb group flying B17's.
The campaign game let's you name planes, crew, targets, ordinance and fly the missions.
Must be pretty cheap to buy as well.
 

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